744 



MARINE PRODUCTS OF COMMERCE 



long ragged pencils of fibers. They begin just above the base of the sponge and 

 extend over the top, near the center of which is a large ragged-edge compound 

 vent. 



Glove sponges are found on the south and west coasts of Florida, and in the 

 Bahamas. They are soft and elastic, but on account of their open texture and 

 weakness have little value. Those from the west coast of Florida are worthless. 



Wire Sponges. These sponges have a fine massive regular shape, and an attrac- 

 tive color and texture, but owing to their harshness, lack of strength, and inability 

 to hold water they are of little usefulness. Formerly, they were rarely brought in 

 by the spongers, but the Greek divers now market a limited quantity. They are 

 bleached and sold, often fraudulently, as substitutes for the Mediterranean bath 

 or honeycomb sponge. They are taken on the west coast of Florida. 



Reef Sponges. Reef sponges belong to several zoological species and vary in 

 shape, although comparatively uniform in qualities and surface appearance. The 

 surface mesh is regular, covered with short bristle-like bundles of fibers, and 

 bears innumerable round orifices about Vie inch in diameter. Although they super- 

 ficially resemble some of the finer grades of Mediterranean sponges, they are far 

 inferior in strength and durability. The pores are larger and the projecting bundles 

 of fibers stouter and stiffer. A few of these sponges are taken among the Florida 

 Keys; but those found in the markets come from the Bahamas, the north coast 

 of Cuba, and occasionally from Honduras. 



They are used by jewelers, silversmiths, and other manufacturers requiring a 

 small, soft sponge. They are used as desk sponges and, when bleached, for toilet 

 purposes. 



Hardhead Sponges, These constitute another miscellaneous group. They are less 

 compressible than reef sponges, and more harsh, elastic, and resilient. They are, 



Fig. 35-4. The hardhead sponge. 



(Courtesy U. S. Fish and Wildlife 

 Service) 



in general, regular in form and, like the reef sponges, usually small. The softer 

 ones are used for the same purposes as reef sponges, the harder ones for scouring 

 and similar operations where a certain degree of attrition is desirable. They come 

 principally from the Bahamas, the north coast of Cuba, the Honduras, and occa- 

 sionally from Haiti. 



